Buddy Guy to play Aurora's Blues on the Fox

Buddy Guy will at Blues on the Fox in June.

Sony Music Entertainment photo

Blues legend Buddy Guy will close out Aurora's annual Blues on the Fox festival on June 14 and June 15. The fest will take place at the new RiverEdge Park Music Garden, 360 N. Broadway St. The festival will feature a variety of entertainers, including Dr. John, the Stone Foxes, and Tony Castro and the Painkillers. 

Hospice to host garden party

The Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice will host its annual Garden Party beginning at noon at the Q Center in St. Charles. The event will include a luncheon, a fashion show, a raffle and a silent auction. For more information about the event, call 630-232-2233. The hospice is located at 200 Whitfield Drive, Geneva. 

Garden group to conduct plant sale

The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will conduct a plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon May 11 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia. Shoppers will find native wildflowers, perennials, ferns and a wide variety of other plans. For more information about the event, call 630-857-6582.

Garage sale to benefit lost pets

Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets will host the group’s annual garage and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 at 39 Walnut Circle, Sugar Grove. For more information about the event or to donate items for the sale, call Cheryl after 6 p.m. at 630-466-7958.

Bella Olivia closes its doors

It's with disappointment that we report that Bella Olivia Pizza & Grill in Batavia recently closed its doors. Signs posted at the shop state the business is closed for remodeling, but telephone service to the shop appears to be disconnected. Bella Olivia is located at 2014 W. Wilson St., Batavia. We will share new information as it becomes available. Bella Olivia opened in 2012. 

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

Batavia VFW to lead Loyalty Day parade May 5

Batavia VFW Post 1197 will host its annual Loyalty Day parade at 1:30 p.m. May 5 on Batavia’s east side. The theme for this year’s parade is the VFW Tree of Life, dedicated to all the branches of the U.S. military. The parade will begin on Raddant Road in the Batavia industrial park and will conclude at the VFW post, 645 S. River St. The parade frequently consists of more than 100 units, including marching bands and floats. The parade is one of our favorite events and offers something for all ages. For more information about the event, call 630-879-9630.

Boy Scouts to conduct annual plant sale
Boy Scout Troop 6 in Batavia will conduct its annual perennial plant sale from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 2 through May 5 at the Moose Family Center parking lot, 1535 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31), Batavia. Quantity pricing will be offered.

Batavia to host city-wide garage sale

Batavia will host its 20th annual city-wide garage sale May 3 and May 4. The sale typically includes sites throughout the city. Maps of the sale locations are available at City Hall, the Batavia Park District, the Batavia Public Library,  7-Eleven and McDonald's. 

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and pictures to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

Sugar Grove Park District to host bird watching class

The Sugar Grove Park District will offer a beginning bird watching class from 7 to 9 a.m. May 4 at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, 5S660 Bliss Road, Sugar Grove. Participants will learn how to identify birds by sound and other clues. Participants are urged to bring binoculars. The fee for the class is $5. for more information, call the park district at 630-466-7436.

Cantigny Park to host open house

Cantigny Park will host an open house featuring its horticulture department from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 5 at the park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Visitors will have an opportunity to tour the park’s greenhouse, where more than 1,000 varieties of flowers are nurtured annually. Visitors should enter through the main gate on Winfield Road. Trams will be available to take visitors from the main parking lot to the greenhouse.

O' Sole Mio Gelato sets grand opening

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. May 4 at O’ Sole Mio Gelato, 27 N. River St., Batavia. The ceremony is part of O’ Sole Mio’s grand opening celebration. The business offers authentic Italian gelato and coffee, sandwiches and more. The event is open to the public. To learn more about the event, call O’ Sole Mio at 630-454-4536.

Golf outing to benefit Riverwoods campus

Fox Valley Christian Action will host its annual golf challenge to benefit Riverwoods on May 20 at the Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles. Check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. Golf will begin with a shotgun start. The event will include a banquet and awards. Registration is available online at www.fvchristianaction.org. The Riverwoods campus is located at 35W624 Riverwoods Lane, St. Charles. 

Batavia Chamber plans golf outing

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will host its annual golf outing from 1 to 8 p.m. June 3 at the Eagle Brook Country Club, 2288 Fargo Blvd., Geneva. The registration fee is $145. For more information, call the Chamber at 630-879-7134.

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and pictures to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information with each submitted photo.

O' Sole Mio Cafe opens in Batavia

Tony Natale, left, Tory Chiappelli and Andrea Chiappelli 

Kevin Botterman photo

The O’ Sole Mio Gelato Cafe recently opened at 27 N. River St. in downtown Batavia. Owners Tony Natale, Tory Chiappelli and Andrea Chiappelli offer authentic Italian gelato, coffee and desserts. The menu includes grilled panini sandwiches, beer and wine. We have visited O’ Sole Mio cafe twice, enjoyed both experiences and encourage friends to visit Tony, Tory and Andrea soon. The trio is finalizing plans for the cafe’s grand opening celebration in May. We’ll share the details here. 

Waubonsee to host merchandising workshop

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, the founder of Retail Minded magazine, will present a retail merchandising workshop from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Waubonsee Community College’s Aurora Campus, 18 S. River Street. The workshop will cover 10 merchandising tips to help maximize retail space. Leinbach Reyle works with a number of area retailers and offers a wealth of knowledge. The registration fee for the workshop is $35, and registration is required.

Altiro Latin Fusion opens in Geneva

Miguel Villanueva and Roberto Avila recently opened Altiro Latin Fusion restaurant at 308 Anderson Blvd. in Geneva. The tapas-style restaurant offers tacos, mini enchiladas and seafood dishes For more information, call 630-232-7717.

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and pictures to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo. 

Neverly Brothers to perform at the Alibi April 13

The Neverly Brothers will perform at the Alibi in St. Charles.

Submitted photo

The Alibi Bar and Grill, 12 N. Third St. in downtown St. Charles, will host a performance by the Neverly Brothers from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13. The band performs a lively mix of American rockabilly and hits from the British invasion. The Neverly Brothers perform throughout the Chicago area and deliver some highly charged entertainment. For more information, call 630-443-0011.

Mooseheart to host annual Easter Egg Hunt
Mooseheart will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at the Mooseheart Field House, which is located near Route 31. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The hunt will feature thousands of eggs and prizes on the stadium field turf. The event also will include an opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny, games, pony rides and other attractions. 

Kaneville Fire Department plans Easter fun
The Kaneville Fire Department will host Easter activities, including a visit from the Easter Bunny, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30. The department is located at 46W536 Lovell St., Kaneville. The event also will include a free lunch. 

Tarragon Catering offers culinary classes
Tarragon Catering in South Elgin offers in-home culinary classes, ranging from appetizers to coursed meals. The classes are led by chef Douglas Yeomans, owner of Tarragon Catering. Tarragon offers full-service catering. To learn more about the class offerings, call 630-624-4272 or click here.  

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

Sugar Grove library to host local author

Author Melanie Jane Nicolas will speak at the Sugar Grove library.

The Sugar Grove Public Library will host a presentation by Melanie Jane Nicolas, a local author, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Nicolas will discuss her book, "Raising Wealthy Kids: Seven Steps for Creating the First Financially Responsible Generation." Admission is free. Seating is limited and registration is encouraged. Nicholas is the founder of Kids Wealth International Club and the Association of Proud Parents Educating About Riches. Gayle Deja-Schultz, a candidate for Sugar Grove village trustee, will host a free continental breakfast at 10 a.m. The library is located at 125 S. Municipal Drive, Sugar Grove. To register for the presentation, call Deja-Schultz at 815-603-0541.

Kane County sets no-refusal campaign for St. Patrick's weekend
The Kane County State's Attorney's Office will conduct a no-refusal effort during St. Patrick's Day weekend. During a no-refusal operation, police and prosecutors work together to speed-up the process required to secure a search warrant requiring a suspected drunk driver to submit to a blood or breath test. The effort is intended to deter impaired driving. A press release issued by the office did not name the police departments that will participate in the effort. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office began the campaign in 2008 and has conducted 12 no-refusal weekends. For more information, click here.

Gary and Mary Burge, center, conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Elements Therapeutic Massage opens in Geneva
Gary and Mary Burge, owners of Elements Therapeutic Massage recently conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the grand opening of their business at 507 S. Third St., Geneva. Mayor Kevin Burns and members of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce attended the event. To learn more about Elements Therapeutic Massage, call 630-621-9734.

St. Charles East drill team finishes 2nd at state finals
Congratulations to the members of the St. Charles East High School Varsity Drill Team for their second-place finish March 3 at the Team Dance Illinois State Championships in Peoria. The team finished second in the Class 3A Lyrical Division and fourth in the Class 3A Open Dance Division. The varsity team is coached by Hannah Byington and Kristina McAndrew.

Performing arts school to host faculty concert
The Vero Voce School of Visual and Performing Arts will host a faculty concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at the Vero Voce Black Box Theatre, 951 State Ave, Suite F, St. Charles.  The performance will feature a variety of styles and genres. The concert is open to the public. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online. For more information about the event, call 630--965-0825.

—Share news and photos of your business or organization here. Email information and pictures to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

Batavia celebrates Restaurant Madness

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is hosting Restaurant Madness through Saturday,  March 9.  More than 20 restaurants are participating in the special event. Diners can enjoy good food and save money all week long.

Dick Tracy cartoonist to visit Geneva
Dick Locher, a Dick Tracy cartoonist and a Pulitzer Prize winner, will speak at the Geneva History Center at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Locher will discuss his experience as an artist and his work as a syndicated editorial cartoonist. The center is located at 113 S. Third St., Geneva. Admission to the program is $10 for adults and $5 for students and members of the Geneva History Center. For more information about the event, call 630-232-4951. 

Books vs Badges benefit game
The fourth annual Books vs Badges Benefit Basketball Game will be played Sunday, March  10 at Batavia High School. The event features teachers from Batavia schools playing against members of the Batavia Police Department and the Batavia Fire Department. The doors will open at 4 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors, students and children. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Batavia 4^th of July Fireworks Fund.

Fox Valley Orchestra plans concert
The Fox Valley Orchestra will present “All Things English,” a concert featuring classical favorites by English composer Edward Elgar, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 630-584-7200 or go to www.norrisculturalarts.com.

Chamber sets candidates forum

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will host a forum featuring the candidates for Batavia’s City Council at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave. The event is open to the public. Candidates for alderman will have the opportunity to comment on five questions. For more information about the event, click here. 

Geneva Underground Playhouse closes
I was disappointed to learn that the operators of the Geneva Underground Playhouse in downtown Geneva recently closed its doors and ceased operations. The playhouse was located in the basement of the Urban Grille restaurant, 524 W. State St. A spokeswoman for the playhouse said supporters could not raise the funds to maintain operations. The Tri-Cities is home to an active arts community, but the GUP will be missed.

—Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.